Electric treadle



P. R. FORMAN ELECTRI C TREADLE May 2, 1933.

Filed sept. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f SVA? kllllllll. I I l l P. R.FORMAN ELECTRIC TREADLE May 2, 1933.-

Filed sept. 15, 1931 2v Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR -BYQM' I y ,Qa A

' ITORNEY Patented May 2, 1933 UNI-TED STATES PATENT orelcE PARIS R.FORMAN, 0F RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC l COMPANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA ELECTRIC TREADLEApplication led September 15, 1931. Serial No. 562,989.

This invention relates to improvements in electric treadles such asthose used in connection with power operated doors on vehicles, busesand the like.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a unitaryelectric treadle structure which may be mounted in place in front of adoor as a unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simpliied electrictreadle structure comprising a unitary supporting frame with the variousparts thereofl mounted entirely upon the unitar frame.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a structure ofthis nature which is relatively simple, relatively cheap to manufactureand of a rugged construction.

These and many other objects as will appear from the followingdisclosure are secured by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction,arrangement and relative location of parts all as will be described indetail hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the treadle ofthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

It is present practice to provide various forms of transportationvehicles such as street cars, buses and the like, with power operateddoors. It is common to provide some form of treadle control mounted inthe floor adjacent the door so that when the treadle is depressed otherpreparatory conditions having occurred the door will open automatically.The general purpose of this invention is to provide an improved andsimpliiied unitary treadle construction for such uses. It is hardlynecessary to point out that the invention is not limited in use tovehicles since it can be used in connection with the doors of buildingsand like structures where, upon the depression of the treadle, the doorwill be automatically opened.

Referring to the drawings the treadle is shown comprising a U-shapedframe 1 closed at its open end by means of an angle bar 2. At 3 is amovable treadle plate which is secured to and within the frame by meansof a suitable hinge 4. The treadle plate is provided at all of its edgeswith depending flanges 4 secured to the under surface of the treadleplate. On the side fianges are two bearing members 5 in which thetransverse shaft 6 is Journalled. Secured to this shaft near its end isa short lever arm 9 which is 60 provided at its outer end with a roller8. The frame 1 is of a construction indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 andcomprises two parallel flange members extending in opposite directionsfrom a central vertical uniting strip.

arenot given because any suitable form of switch structure mayb-elemployed.

Secured near the center of shaft 6 is a lever arm 13 which lies underthe push button 12 as is clear from Fig. 3. This lever arm is providedwith an extension 14 which engages 80 with the under surface of thetreadle plate. A threaded pin 19 extends through the treadle plate andthe lever arm 14 and is providedwith a thumb nut 20. A compressionsirine' 21 lies between this thumb nut and 85 the arm 14 so as tonormally urge the arm into the position shown in Fig. 3 and out ofengagement with push button 12. The frame 1 is provided with a struck-upstop arm 15 provided with a resilient contact pad 90 18 for theengagement with arm 17 secured to the under surface of the treadle bymeans of a bracket 16.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the treadle is normally in slightly raisedposition with respect to its frame when there is no weight thereon. Thispositionof the treadle is maintained by means of the spring 12 whichcauses the composite arm or lever 13, 14 to assume the position shown inFig. 3. This causes 199 The switch arm 70 shaft 6 to raise in such aposition that arms 7 are moved to a position so that the rollers 8thereon engage with the flanges 1 and hold the treadle in raisedposition. The engagement of arm 17 with stop arm 15 limits the uppermovement of the treadle late. When a person steps on the treadle ate itis depressed and as a result shaft 6 and arm 13 are rotatedsothahwm 13-moves towards and against rpnsh Joutton 12 to nuwe it into the casing 9to close the switch. In accordance with practice in this art this switchis included in suitable control circuits so that the power device foroperatingthe door Acauses rthe door to open. If the circuits areotherwise set 'for door opening operation when Y PARIS R. FORMAN.

the treadle is relieved of pressure i't returns to normal raisedposition under the pressure exerted `by spring 2l acting through shaft 6and the arms 7.

From the above description it will be apparent that this inventionresides in certain principles of construction and operation which may becarried out in other physical forms and I do not, therefore, desire tobe strictly limited to the disclosure as given for ,purposes ofillustration but rather to the sco e of the appended claims.

'fhat I seek to secure by United 'States Letters Patent is:

1. A treadle construction comprising a supporting frame, a treadle platehingedly secured in said frame, a shaft journa'lled on said'treadleplate, arms secured to said shaft, and spring means operating with saidshaft to cause said arms to engage the frame to hold the treadle platein raised position.

2. A treadle construction comprisinga supporting frame, a treadle plate'hingedly secured in said frame, ashaft journalled on said treadleplate, arms secured to said shaft, spring means operating with saidshaft to cause said arms to engage the frame to hold the treadle platein raised position, and stop means for limiting the movement of thetreadle under the action of said spring means.

3. A treadle construction of the type described, comprising a frame, atreadle plate pivotally secured in said frame, a switch secured to thetreadle plate, a shaft journa'lled on said treadle plate and having armssecured thereto in a position to enga e said frame, a lever secured tosaid sha and spring means acting through said lever, shaft and arms tohold the treadle plate in raised position.

4. A treadle construction of the type described, comprising a frame, atreadle plate Ipivota'lly secured in said frame, a switch secured to thetreadle plate, a shaft journalled on said treadle plate and having armssecured thereto in a position to engage said frame, a lever secured tosaid shaft, spring means acting through said lever shaft and 'arms tohold the treadle plate in raised posi

